Automobile signal switch



1941' w. S. TINDALL AUTOMOBILE SIGN AL SWITCH Filed Feb. 2:5. 1 938INVENT OR,

mm a M m m m W Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL SWITCH William S. Tindall, Kansas City, Kans.Application February 23, 1938, Serial No. 192,036

1 Claim. (01. 200-59) This invention relates to improvements in au'togleof rotation of the switch member, as heremobile signaling systems andparticularly to inafter described. mechanism which will operate a signalat both Pinion 38 intermeshes with gear 32, which is the front and rearof the vehicle to indicate the mounted on spindle 34 for rotation inhousing 5 direction, the vehicle is about to turn, automati- 28. Mountedfor rotation with gear 32 is a pin- 5 cally by the rotary movement ofthe steering ion 36 which in-termeshes with gear 38 rota shaft of theautomobile and without any conably carried by spindle 40, which isrotatably scious operation of other mechanism by the mounted in housing28. The peripheral wall of driver. housing 28 is divided into twosections, 42 and The principal object of the present invention 4442being integral or securely aflixed to the 10 is the provision of asimple automatic autornomain portion of the housing, and 44 beingsecured bile signaling system whereby a warning signal thereto by meansof screws 46 thereby making will be given when the front wheels of theautoit possible to easily remove section 44. mobile are turned from thestraight path, An insulating block 48 is secure'd'by means With theforegoing and other objects in view, of screws 50 to section 44 and hasan inner ar- 15 this invention comprises certain constructions, cuatesuriace 52 concentric with the gear 38. combinations and arrangement ofparts as here- Gear 38 is provided with an insulating block 54 inafterset forth in the specification, referring which is secured by screws 56.An opening 58, to the drawing wherein: extending through block 54 isprovided with an Figure 1 is a partial view of certain of the adjustablescrew plug 60, against which a spring 20 automobile parts with signalingmechanism parts 62 rests to urge contact brush 64, slidablymountassociated therewith, embodying this invention. ed in opening 58,against the inner arcuate sur- Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on lineIIII face 52 of block 48. These parts are so related of Fig. 1; and withrespect to the steering wheels of the auto- Fig. 3 is a diagramm-aticalview of the electric mobile, that when said wheels are in a straight 25circuit of the signaling system. ahead position, "contact brush 64 willbe at su-b- Throughout the several views, like reference stantially thecenter point of the arcuate surface characters designate similar partsand the nu- 52 of the insulating block 48. A series of conmeral I8designates the steering post of an autotact members 66, '68 and 10 arepositioned on inmobile which extends through the partition [2 sulaftingblock 48 at one side of the center there- 30 which eparates the drivingcompartment from of, while contact points 12, 14 and 16 are at the theengine compartment. The steering post l0 opposite side of the center.These contact points carries the steering shaft l4, which isoperativeare so positioned as to be in the line of travel of 1yconnected with the steering wheel I 6 to control brush 64.

the position of the front wheels of the car in the he train O gears fromt e Steering shaft to 35 usual manner. rush 64 are such that when thesteering shaft In order to expose a portion of the steering is operatedto turn the car to the right, the shaft [4, steering post I8 is splitand spaced brush will move in a like direction to contact apart at I8.These two spaced apart ends of points 72, 14 and T6 as the steeringwheels of post ID are secured in alignment by means of the car are movedfrom the straight away posi- 40 a housing member 20 having spaced aparttubution to the extreme angle of curvature. Likelar portions 22 and 24into which the steering wise when the steering wheels are turned to thepost end portions are respectively fitted. These left, the brush willsuccessively contact points parts are then secured against accidentalmove- 66, 68 and 10. For convenience of construction ment by means ofset screws 26. and assembly, the top portion 18 of housing 20 5 Thehousing 20 is preferably circular in form is removable from the mainportion of said housas shown in Fig. 2, with the steering shaft [4 ing.passing therethrough adjacent its outer edge. Referring now to thediagrammatical view of Securely mounted on steering shaft l4, by thecircuit, it will be noted that contact brush means of set screw 28, is apinion 30. This pin- 64 is connected through spring 62, plug and 50 ionrotates with the steering shaft, and since wire to generator 82. Thisgenerator is of in the steering of an automobile the steering the typenormally used in automobiles for genshaft makes several revolutions inturning the crating current for the operation of the automowheelsthrough their entire angle of adjustment, bile and for charging thestorage battery. Conso it becomes necessary to greatly reduce the antactpoints 66 and 12 are connected respectively 55 by wires 84 and 86 towire 88 in which signal lights 90, 92 and 94 are in series. These lightsare positioned respectively at the front, rear and on the instrumentboard of the automobile so as to display a slow signal. One end of Wire88 is connected with the generator as shown.

Contact 68 is provided with a conductor 96 which connects with wire 88,through a series of signal lights 98, I00 and I02 positionedrespectively at the front, rear and on the instrument board of theautomobile.

To indicate that the automobile is turning to the left, likewise WireI04 joins contact I4 with wire 88 which connects with the generator, andis provided with a series of lights I06, I08 and I02. Contact I6 isconnected by wire III] to wire 88 to generator 82, a series of lights II2, H4 and H6 are in series in Wire III] to indicate that the automobileis turning. Contact I0 is connected by means of wire II8 to wire IIO sothat when brush 64 engages either contact I0 or "IE, like signals willbe given.

The signal boxes I20, I22 and I24 may have any suitable indicia, notshown, whereby the desired information will be given as to the slowingof the automobile, the direction of turning, and the turning operation.

The principal object of the instrument board signals, is to inform theoperator as to the condition of the system. Should one of the lights orbulbs of any one of the three series be burned out, then thecorresponding bulb at the instrument board would not light, thusindicating that that particular part of the system was inoperative.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

A combination with a split steering post on the steering shaft of anautomobile, of an electric circuit making and breaking means, comprisinga housing having spaced apart tubular portions into which arerespectively secured spaced apart portions of said steering post; atrain of gears mounted for rotation within said housing, a gear at oneextremity of said train of gears being secured for rotation with saidsteering shaft between said tubular portions; the gear at the otherextremity of said train of gears being provided with .a radiallydisposed wiping contact member adapted to extend beyond the periphery ofsaid associated gear and move through an arcuate path as the train ofgears is operated by said steering shaft; an insulating block secured tosaid housing having an inner arcuate surface disposed concentricallyoutside said last named gear; and a series of contacts removablysupported on the inner arcuatc surface of said block within said housingin the path of travel of said contact member whereby an electric circuitis controlled, the outer contacts of said series of contacts being ofgreater arcuate extent.

WILLIAM S. TINDALL.

